Shoe sole



Aug. 16, 1932.

G. l.. PIE-RCE sHoE soLE Eiled Marn 25, 1931 Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES Pilsfrelw'T;-v ori-"rma:y

GEORGE L. PIERCE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSGNOR T A. G. VSPALDING BROS., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OFNEW JERSEY t sHoE somtY Application filed March 25, 1931A.` Serial No. 525,263.

The invention relates to sole members for foot wear having combined therein a forward portion of rubber constituting the sole proper and its shank and a` rear portion of leather f constituting a heel section or heel seat.

The invention concerns particularly the construction whereby these parts are interconnected so that the joint between them will extend at an angle to the normal transverse 1o line of flexure and the rubber shank will be reinforced and supported by the leather heel portion.

The invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which Figure l is a top plan View of the composite member.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view.

Figure 3 is an edge view. f

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the meeting ends of the shank and heel section.

Figure 5 is a detail.

In the drawing l is the sole proper composed of rubber and having a shank portion 2. At the rear end of the shank there is a leather section 8 which constitutes the base or seat for the heel. These two parts are joined together by tapering the rear part of the Vshank portion upwardly from point a rearwardly to the thin edge b. The forward part of the leather 3o heel seat portion 3 is tapered downwardly to a thin edge to correspond with the taper on the shank. The heel section is formed V- shaped at this tapered forward portion to provide the inclined seat c for the tapered rear portion of the shank, this seat being defined by the V-sliaped forward end -Iof the leather member at d. e. f. and by the line 'g The shank at its rear end has a formation complementary to that of the forward end of the heel portion that is to say it has a reentrant angular thin edge y'. lo. Z. and an angular line m. u. o. corresponding tofthe end of the leather portion d. e. 7. The two parts are cemented or vulcanized together at their tapered surfaces to make substantially an in-V tegral body. In the ordinary flexing of the sole when in use the line or zone about which the bending of the composite member takes 59 place is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the'membe'r. Were the joint between the two parts made on a line or Zone atvright angles to the longitudinal axis of the sole said joint would tend to openl but with the V-shaped joint above described the lines thereof are at an angle to the transverse line of bend and hence-there will be no danger 'of the opening of the joint, the line of stress being across the line of the joint. i' l By my invention also the V-shaped extension of the heel seat portion` projects at its central partwell under the rear portion of the shank from a point at the longitudinal center line thereof along diverging lines to the side-edges so that support is aiforded to the shank and a'strong construction is provided. Y v

The heel section may be slit from p to ron its under side so as to provide a thin layer of leather say'l/t of an inch in thickness.

This may? be turned forward -in order that the heelof wood Vorother material maybe attached to the heel section. Then this thin layer of leather may belaid against the breast o f the heel and there cemented to finish the heel of the shoe at this point. Thelieel section and the rubber sole portion rmay be additionally secured, together'by a line of stitching indicated at s. y

i The heel section may receive nails to secure it in place and the rubber sole' may be secured byawelt.

It will be observed that point r defines the line of the breast of the heel andthat the taper of the forward extension of the heel begins vat a point in rear ofthe line or face of the heel breast and extends forwardly and downwardly in relation to said line and that the shank has a complementary taper on its under side lying upon the taper of the heel section so that the rear end of the tapered portion of the shank extends to a point in rear of the point r and hence in rear of the breast line so that the tapered end of the shank is supported both by the forward extension of the heel section and by said heel section itself.

I claim:

1. A shoe sole comprising a tread and shank portion, and a heel seat section, said heel section having its forward portion of V- shape from side to side and tapered downwardly to a thin edge, the apex of the V shape being directed forwardly on the longitudinal center line of said heel seat section the shank having a formation at its rear end complementary to the forward end of the heel, said V-shaped kand tapered ends of the shank and heel being secured together to act as one body, the forward V-shaped tapered part o f the heel underlying the complementary shaped rear end `of the shank and furnishing aV support therefor.

2. A shoe sole having a tread and shank portion and a heel section intimately united therewith, said heel section being slit from its -rear ypart forwardly to providel a thin layer of -material to inisli the breast `of the heel, substantially as described.

3. A shoe sole according to Claim l having n a thin layer `of material slit from but integrally united with the heel section and eX- tending to near the V-shaped formation, said thin layer being adapted to finish the breast of the heel, substantially as described.

25 4. A shoe sole .according to cl-aiin 6 in which the tread and shank portions are of rubber and the heel seat section is of leather, substantially as described.

5.A shoe sole comprising .a tread and .30 shank portion and a heel section, saidv heel section having an extension forwardly of the line of the breast of the heel, said extension being tapered downwardly and the plane of the Ytapered surface reaching to a point in 5 rear of said breast line, ythe shank'h-avingna complementary -upwardly tapered under surfaceand reaching to said point in rear of the breast line, said shank at its rear end therefore being supported both by the forward o extension of the heel section and by said section at the rear of said breast line, substantially as described. 6. A shoe sole comprising a tread and shank portion and a heel section, said heel 5 section having an extension forwardly of the line of the breast of the heel and tapered downwardly, the shank having a complementary upwardly tapered under surface overlying the said forward extension of the 50 heel, substantially as described.

VIn testimony whereof, I afX my signature.

GEORGE L. PIERCE. 

